Before long, Tsunade withdrew her chakra, ending the special treatment.
As expected of the Number One Medic of the Ninja World, her medical ninjutsu truly bordered on the divine.
She was living proof of her own miracles—after all, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, she had literally been split in half by Uchiha Madara's Susanoo, and still came back full of life.
Leo flexed his shoulders slightly. The soreness was completely gone—no trace of pain in his muscles at all. He could probably go another few rounds right now. His mind was clear, his body revitalized.
After taking a moment to catch her breath, Tsunade finally said,
"At first, I thought all that overtraining of yours would leave you with plenty of internal injuries. But after scanning your body just now… you're as sturdy as a bull. Not a single hidden injury. Seems I was worried for nothing."
"Really?" Leo blinked, surprised.
He had been concerned that such harsh physical training might leave long-term damage—but he'd thrown that worry aside in his pursuit of strength.
Now, hearing Tsunade's diagnosis, he finally felt relieved.
This change probably had something to do with his Three Colors of Haki.
Ever since upgrading to Level 3, Leo could feel his body undergoing a transformation.
His defense, speed, strength, and regeneration had all improved dramatically—far beyond what ordinary shinobi could achieve.
Even the old Marine hero Garp from the pirate world had managed to retain his peak physique well into old age; eight out of ten chances, that was because his mastery of Haki had reached an unfathomable level.
When it came to Haki, even the Four Emperors might have been a little below Garp's caliber.
"Hey, brat," Tsunade said suddenly, "the Third said you're joining the ANBU?"
"Yes," Leo replied evenly. "Thanks to the Hokage's guidance."
"Ahh… so you're joining the ANBU." Tsunade sighed. "Then I guess I won't be seeing you around much anymore, kid."
"What, does the ANBU restrict personal freedom or something?" Leo asked, frowning slightly. If that were the case, he'd have to rethink his plans.
Tsunade chuckled softly. "Not exactly. The ANBU worked directly under the Third Hokage. They often take on classified missions, which means they might have to leave Konoha for long periods. And since their identities are secret—even I won't be able to know who you are once you're inside."
"I see. Thanks for telling me," Leo said with a nod.
"It's nothing. It's hardly a secret anyway—you'll find out soon enough." Tsunade waved her hand dismissively, clearly unconcerned.
Leo studied her quietly for a moment.
Tsunade really was a beautiful woman—confident, fiery, and irresistibly charming. It was no wonder so many men were drawn to her.
She was still young now—vibrant and full of life, not yet hardened by the cruel reality of the shinobi world.
If Leo weren't so young himself, he might've actually dared to pursue this woman who would one day become the dream goddess of countless otaku across the generations.
"Say, Tsunade-nee," he asked half teasingly, "why are you so nice to me?"
"…What did you just call me?" Tsunade froze, staring at him as if she'd misheard.
"I said, Tsunade-nee!" Leo repeated boldly.
She was older than him, had saved his life, and even treated his injuries—calling her "big sister" felt more than appropriate.
"Pfft—ahahaha!"
Tsunade burst out laughing.
So the cold little brat could be polite after all. "Say that again," she grinned, "let big sister hear it one more time."
Leo rolled his eyes. "Heh."
Tsunade didn't mind. Just hearing him say it once had made her oddly happy. She smiled gently and said,
"I brought you back to the village. That means I'm responsible for you."
"Oh," Leo murmured, thoughtful.
Looking at his young, serious face, Tsunade couldn't help but think of her younger brother, Nawaki.
If only Nawaki had been as mature and disciplined as Leo…
That hopeless little brother of hers spent his days lazing around, dreaming about becoming Hokage, with none of the skill or resolve to back it up. Even as his sister, she couldn't stand watching him sometimes.
After a moment of silent thought, Tsunade seemed to make a decision. She reached into her cloak and pulled out a white scroll, handing it to Leo.
"What's this?" he asked, puzzled.
"It's my training method for Monster Strength, along with my personal notes on how to cultivate it. Since you have an innate strength-type bloodline, this might help you."
But Leo didn't take it. He shook his head. "That's far too valuable. I can't accept it."
At that, Tsunade frowned. Without another word, she shoved the scroll firmly into his chest.
"Listen, brat. Consider this my gift for calling me 'big sister.' You're joining the ANBU soon, and who knows what dangers you'll face there. The stronger you are, the safer you'll be."
Before Leo could respond, she formed a hand seal—"poof!"—and vanished in a puff of smoke.
Leo stood there, caught off guard, staring down at the scroll in his arms. Somehow, it felt heavier than it should have been.
For the first time in a long while, he felt a genuine warmth from this village.
The next day, Leo visited the Ninja Academy.
He applied for early graduation to become a genin, and since every teacher there knew of his genius—and the Third Hokage had already given instructions—the process went unusually smoothly.
He received his Konoha forehead protector, but instead of wearing it on his head, he tied it around his arm.
For some reason, wearing it on his forehead just felt… silly.
Fortunately, Konoha didn't have any strict rules about that.
After strolling around the Academy one last time, Leo felt a faint twinge of nostalgia. This would probably be his last visit here. Once he stepped beyond those gates, he would no longer be a student—but a real shinobi, one who would face blood, storms, and death itself.
To his mild surprise, Kushina wasn't at school that day either. So, no chance for a farewell.
Joining the ANBU meant disappearing from the public eye—no more walking freely through the village streets.
That evening, when he returned home, a masked shinobi wearing the iconic dog mask of the ANBU was already waiting for him.
As soon as Leo approached, the masked man said coolly,
"Leo. I'm the shinobi assigned to guide you into the ANBU. Codename: Tengu."
He handed Leo a folded bundle of black ANBU uniform and equipment.
"Nice to meet you," Leo said simply.
Tengu nodded slightly. "Leo, because your case is special—and since you're graduating early—you won't immediately become a full ANBU operative. Before that, you must pass the ANBU's internal trials. Only after surviving those evaluations can you be considered a true member. Understood?"
"Understood," Leo replied calmly, his face unreadable.
So basically… an intern.
Full-fledged ANBU were the Hokage's direct agents—shadows who carried out classified missions, masters of codes, signals, and secrets.
To reach that level, every recruit had to endure a long period of training and adjustment.
"Come with me," Tengu said.
With a puff of white smoke, both figures vanished from sight.
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